National Help

Chats and Message Boards

There are a variety of support services available to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault on the Internet. We have listed some of these resources below.

Please keep safety in mind as you are using these resources. Only some of them are moderated and screened. Many of the message and discussion boards can be accessed by anyone on the Internet. Never post your real name or contact information to a chatroom or message board. If a resource requires that you choose a username, pick a name that does not include your real name. If you have to sign up using your email address, be sure to use a safe email address. It is also best to use a computer your abuser does not have access to. For more information, visit our Internet Security page.

Please note: WomensLaw.org has no relationship with these websites and cannot vouch for their safety or credibility. We provide these links for your information. Listed in alphabetical order:

AfterSilence.org
After Silence is a non-profit organization, message board and chat room for rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse survivors. Their mission is to support, empower, validate, and educate survivors, as well as their families and supporters. The core of the organization is a message board and chat room where victims and survivors come together online in a mutually supportive and safe environment.

The Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center
They provide holistic services to Americans abused abroad including case management, danger to safety relocation, legal consultations for mothers seeking divorce and custody, payment of initial legal retainers, housing assistance and funds to help with emergency needs such as issuing American passports. They provide a "live chat" option during certain times of the day or you can contact them via phone or email.

Broken Spirits
An online community and support group that focuses on aiding both current and past victims of child abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence.

i believe you | it's not your fault
A place where victims of sexual abuse, rape, "date rape," and their family and supporters can share their experiences and get support.
Love is Respect - National Teen Dating Helpline A national resource that can be accessed by phone or the internet. The Helpline and website offer real-time one-on-one support from trained Peer Advocates. The National Domestic Violence Hotline operates loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline from their call center in Austin, TX.

Peer Advocates are trained to offer support, information and advocacy to those involved in dating abuse relationships as well as concerned parents, teachers, clergy, law enforcement, and service providers.

MaleSurvivor
MaleSurvivor provides critical resources to male survivors of sexual trauma and all their partners in recovery by building communities of Hope, Healing, & Support. Services include: Online discussion forums for male survivors and their partners, Online therapist directory, professionally facilitated healing retreats and workshops for survivors,and training for professional across disciplines.

MD Advice
MD Advice has various chat support groups that meet on a weekly basis. Visitors can interact and share experiences, concerns, worries, ideas, problems, conflicts, suggestions, and other information regarding health issues with other members on the conditions they have been affected by. There is a weekly chat for victims of domestic abuse Sundays at 11 PM, Eastern Time. Please check the web site above for any changes to the schedule.

OnYourMind.net
A safe and anonymous place for teens to get information and support from other teens with a chat room, Monday through Thursday 4:30-9:30 PST.

Pandora's ProjectThe largest online community for sexual abuse and domestic violence survivors to chat, find resources and share their stories. Pandora's Project provides information, facilitates peer support and offers assistance to male and female survivors of sexual violence and their friends and family.

RainbowHope
Online support group for lesbian survivors of abuse and their partners.

Rhiannon3.net
Run by a survivor of domestic violence, Rhiannon3.net offers several message boards and chats. The message boards are publicly accessible - you do not have to log in or join to view the message boards. The chatrooms have both scheduled topics and "open" chat times.

Teen Chat - For Teens, By Teens
Teen Chat provides a chatroom and information for teens who may be involved in a violent relationship. It also provides help to teens who think a friend may need help. Their chatroom is moderated by trained facilitators, who are teens. The chatroom hours are Monday and Wednesday, 5PM-7PM Pacific Time. Please check the website above for any changes to the schedule.

Witness Justice
Witness Justice provides an online community for survivors of violent crime, including domestic violence. You do not have to sign in to view their discussion boards; however, you do have to sign-in to post on their discussion boards.

YesICAN
The Yes ICAN chat room is to be used by individuals who wish to discuss issues around surviving child abuse, parenting and domestic violence. The YesICAN chat room is available to those who need support. It is not to be used by individuals who are in need of information for a term paper or research.
YesICan has recently launched several new
groups, inlcuding a new Spanish speaking online support group on Tuesday evenings from 17:30 - 19:30 Pacific Time for survivors of abuse. and several English speaking support groups throughout the week. Two specific groups starting are Male only survivors on Sundays and Female Only survivors on Monday.

YesICAN chats are facilitated by trained facilitators. There are scheduled times for various subjects, including teen survivors, male survivors, female survivors, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, incest survivors, significant others, and parenting. Please go to their website for full details and the schedule.